Parliamani Secretary National Health Services Dr. Nausheen Hamid said that Pakistan has made sub-optimal progress towards achieving the targets set out under the MDGs and now the SDG Agenda, health is centrally positioned within the SDG Agenda, with one comprehensive goal (SDG3) with its targets covering major health priorities, with additional links to targets in many of the other SDG goals, She said in her remarks on the National Launch SDG 3 Localization in Pakistan. She said the Ministry of National Health Services, considers SDGs as National Goals of Pakistan and is committed to implementing SDG3 Agenda through its localization and integration with the country health strategies and plans both at National and Provincial level. The first step towards attaining the SDG3 targets in Pakistan starts with understanding the ground realities today. The health indicators are not up to the desired level and we all need to work very hard to achieve SDG3 targets through Universal Health Coverage. She said ministry has completed the process of localization of health related SDG indicators in consultation with all relevant stakeholders and partners both at the National and Provincial levels. She said it is a golden opportunity with SDG3 localization to reconsider interventions required for improvement of health indicators at the National, Provincial and District levels She said the Ministry seeks close cooperation with line ministries to monitor the progress in SDG3 indicators. We would specially request the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics to work in collaboration with the Ministry on data sharing and analysis for measuring and reporting progress on health indicators. Director General Health Dr. Asad Hafeez said that on this occasion, By adhering to the SDG Agenda 2030, the country aims to bring about transformational change in 17 domains covering multiple sectors to improve the lives of not only the citizens of Pakistan but also contribute towards the betterment of the entire humanity He said SGD-3 that covers health is aimed to “Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages” and is the pivot that will drive the SGD agenda in Pakistan due to its centrality in human development. He said with the Government of Pakistan fully focused on improving the lives of the people of Pakistan it is imperative that the country is well prepared to enable full achievement of SDG targets and goals He said it gives me great pleasure to note that the Ministry received full support of the Provincial/ Area Governments and Departments of Health, the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform and other relevant line ministries. He said it is indeed a notable achievement for Pakistan that it is one of the first countries globally to complete the localization process which is a fundamental first step towards the long journey of achieving SDGs by 2030. Dr Ni’ma Abid Saeed Head of WHO Pakistan in his address appreciated the political commitment of Govt of Pakistan, ministry of National health services, regulation and coordination. WHO defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” He further said that monitoring health trend and strengthening health information system are among the core functions of WHO & for that we are accountable and committed to work closely with Govt of Pakistan. WHO is committed to support all stakeholders for SDG-3 implementation and forth coming voluntary national review. -*-*-*-
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